Monday, April 30, 2012

In the A to Z Challenge, we are writing about something to go with each
letter of the alphabet, one letter a day through the month of April.
Today we're on the letter Z. How sad! We are at the end! But I'll still be here.
My theme is poetry for ages 4 to 104. In addition to writing at least
one poem, I'm also incorporating a Tagxedo image with a font having the
same letter, and the Tagxedo theme beginning with the same letter. It
isn't so easy with these last letters, so sometimes I have to get creative with
where the letter is found!
You can check out my other posts listed on
the side. Then head on over to check out those of other writers by
clicking on the top tab "A to Z Participants"!

I said at the beginning that as the rate I was going, I might have 26 poems for Z. Fortunately, I don't! I do have 5 though. And that's quite enough for today!Does anyone have a suggestion as to how I might put these together into a book? I'd like to do that, and maybe add some extras for some of the letters, or just edit it down to just one per letter. Any ideas on which way is best? Suggestions? Encouragements? H-h-e-l-p?

Font: Zapf Dingbats

Taxgedo Theme: White on Black - which seemed better than the Zing theme I could

have used that was a greenish and yellowy theme. No, not right for zebra.

Poetry Style: ZaniLa Rhyme

The ZaniLa Rhyme, a form created by Laura Lamarca. The rhyme scheme is abcb,

with a syllable count of 9/7/9/9. Line 3 contains an internal rhyme and is repeated in

each odd numbered stanza. Even stanzas contain the same line but reverse the

internal rhyme. It has a minimum of 3 stanzas.

Zebra Stripes

Zebra on the plain with stripes of white
Stripes so light against the dark
White and then black, lined up front to back
Your fashion is so formal and stark.
Zebra on the plain with your black stripes
Your stripes clearly meant to show,
Lined up front to back, white and then black
Repeating stripes march row after row.
Which do you have white stripes or black?
Alternating colors flash
White and then black, lined up front to back;
At least your two colors do not clash!

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Zip zap zing
Who says z's are not the thing
To make a poem sing?
Zombie, zilch, zits
These are just the pits,
But zooming, zesty, zealous
make plainer words
Quite jealous.
And then you always have
The z that's in the middle
Wizard, lizard, drizzle.
Pizza, razzed and fizzle
And if that's not enough, friend
You have them at the end then
Like whiz and fizz and jazz
Which give this poetic spaz
Some dazzling razzmatazz!

Saturday, April 28, 2012

In the A to Z Challenge, we are writing about something to go with each
letter of the alphabet, one letter a day through the month of April.
Today we're on the letter Y.
My theme is poetry for ages 4 to 104. In addition to writing at least
one poem, I'm also incorporating a Tagxedo image with a font having the
same letter, and the Tagxedo theme beginning with the same letter. It
isn't so easy with these last letters, so sometimes I have to get creative with
where the letter is found!
We are close to the end now! But you can check out my other posts listed on
the side. Then head on over to check out those of other writers by
clicking on the top tab "A to Z Participants"!

Does anyone have a suggestion as to
how I might put these together into a book? I'd like to do that, and
maybe add some extras for some of the letters, or just edit it down to
just one per letter. Any ideas on which way is best? Suggestions?
Encouragements? H-h-e-l-p?

The yadu (also spelled ya-du and yatu) is a Burmese form of poetry which consists of up to three stanzas of five lines. The first four lines of a stanza have four syllables each, but the fifth line can have 5, 7, 9 , or 11 syllables. A yadu should contain references to the seasons.It has a climbing rhyme. The rhyme is on the fourth, third, and second syllables of both the first three lines and the last three lines.Example of the rhyming pattern:---A--A--A-B--B--B---

Y is for Yellow Yadu

yellow sun floods
the field buds bright
in mud of spring
the birds sing of
the bling of yellow dandelions

hovering blue
above new green
a few clouds fluff
not the stuff or
enough to threaten a rain

Okay, that wasn't the easiest pattern to follow. Yowza. You should try it. I dare you! It is fun when you finally get the rhyming locked into the correct syllable on the correct line, with the right number of syllables...oh, and then make sure it has a season theme, and then of course, be about the Y word... All this just after you've suddenly remembered that you haven't done this letter yet and it is 11:45 pm the night before and you have a grandson arriving in about 15 minutes from PA, and there's a shower to go to tomorrow and you want to make a trip to Friendship to see Gull Haven and so there will be no time on Saturday to write anything. Can you tell by the rambling, I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of my daughter, son-in-law, and grandson?

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Font: Webdings - Yes, I thought that would be funny! You can't read what I wrote, can you? You need a webding translator, hah! Maybe I didn't even write whale words this time! How would you know? Extra points for anyone who can read one and tell me where it is and the color (so I know you didn't just cheat and guess!).Tagxedo Theme: Wonderful TirzahPoem Form: Waka - or Tanka ("short poem") is a type of classical Japanese poetry, earlier known as waka ("Japanese poem"). It consist of five units usually with the following pattern:5-7-5-7-7. Traditionally it has no rhyme.

Waka for a Whale

giant seafarer
lumberer of the deepest
breathing watered air
traveling the salted roads
at home where we cannot go

In the A to Z Challenge, we are writing about something to go with each
letter of the alphabet, one letter a day through the month of April.
Today we're on the letter W.
My theme is poetry for ages 4 to 104. In addition to writing at least
one poem, I'm also incorporating a Tagxedo image with a font having the
same letter, and the Tagxedo theme beginning with the same letter. It
isn't so easy with these last letters, so sometimes I have to get creative with
where the letter is found!
We are close to the end now! But you can check out my other posts listed on
the side. Then head on over to check out those of other writers by
clicking on the top tab "A to Z Participants"!

Wow!
Three letters to go
Only X, Y and Z!
Though the letter flow
Will soon come to a stop,
I'm not feeling low
My poetry's blooming
And starting to grow.
I'm forever able
In wonder to crow
I've finished the race of
Thirty days ago.
Can you see my face
beginning to glow?
Wow!

An informational aside for teachers of the young - as a first grade teacher, when I came to the letter W, I would sometimes call it "wubble -you" and sometimes "double v" (pronounced as the French letter). The former, I would use when we wanted the sound for w, as in many cases they would say /d/ as in "double" as the sound made by W. They, of course, would laugh and protest my incorrect name for W, but would forever remember the sound for W. "Oh, yeah, wubble-you!"
And when we were writing it, I would use "double v". They would protest and correct me again. But I would point out that it really looked more like a double v to me than a double u! It was fun, and they remembered those funny ways of learning W's sound and appearance. Besides, I just like antagonizing them to be silly, as I protested just as loudly to them, that the way they wanted it to be said or written just didn't make sense to me either!
Isn't Wubble-you a fun letter!

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

In the A to Z Challenge, we are writing about something to go with each
letter of the alphabet, one letter a day through the month of April.
Today we're on the letter V.
My theme is poetry for ages 4 to 104. In addition to writing at least
one poem, I'm also incorporating a Tagxedo image with a font having the
same letter, and the Tagxedo theme beginning with the same letter. It
isn't so easy with these last letters, so sometimes I have to get creative with
where the letter is found!
We are close to the end now! But you can check out my other posts on
the side. Then head on over to check out those of other writers by
clicking on the top tab A to Z Participants!

Font: VerdanaTagxedo Theme: Vague ButterflyPoetry Form: VisualThe visual arrangement of text, images, and symbols to help convey the meaning of the work. Visual poetry is sometimes referred to as a type of concrete poetry. Read more about 55 Types of Poetry Forms here.
I used the syllable pattern of 8/5/3 to create the ups and downs of the edges of the poem...maybe valleys and mountain shapes? Yeah, squint if you have to .

If You Can See the Valley

A valley lies between two hills
Amongst the shadows
And hushed chills.

The question posed to me is "why?"
If not for valleys
There's no high.

With valleys come the soaring heights
Of mountaintops with
Fuller sight.

With nothing higher to ascend
We would not fully
Comprehend.

The beauty of those valley lows,
The deep and dark from
Which we rose.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

In the A to Z Challenge, we are writing about something to go with each letter of the alphabet, one letter a day through the month of April. Today we're on the letter U.
My theme is poetry for ages 4 to 104. In addition to writing at least one poem, I'm also incorporating a Tagxedo image with a font having the same letter, and the Tagxedo theme beginning with the same letter. It isn't so easy with these last letters, so I'm getting creative with where the letter is found!
We are close to the end now! But you can check out my other posts on the side. Then head on over to check out those of other writers by clicking on the top tab A to Z Participants!

Font Style: Euphemia font - sorry, it has a "u" and is pronounced "you" at the beginning!Tagxedo theme: You Make my Day - again, the first word has a "u" in it and the word "you" is for "u"!Poetry Form: Eulogy - okay can you guess why I did a Eulogy? Yes, there were no real u forms of poetry.A little understanding, please, unless you can come up with unuther way I could have dun it!

You had a handle,
Like a crook,
On being
A sharp shooter;
A wash and wear
Kind of dresser;
A runner extraordinaire,
Straight stretcher,
Strong ribbed,
Openly protective.
Ready to spring into action.
You were top notch
From your tip cup
To your open cap.
You silently and smoothly
Came to my rescue
Day after dismal day,
Even a brolly in the sun.
I tip my ferrule to you,
It is finally the end,
My drear friend,
U inside outUmbrella.

Sunday, April 22, 2012

A very dear friend has just had her third baby. She has become my friend through my daughter, and I enjoy her company and her family very much. She has been like another daughter to me, and as time has gone on, just as with my true daughter, an adult peer friendship has developed. And so, I feel much like a grandmother to her children, and especially this new life so close in age to our first grandchild. I wrote this poem for this new life. Such a special time of new beginnings lately. It makes my heart want to burst with love, and it brings tears of joy to see these lovely ladies, once tea party friends, become such wonderful mothers.

To Little C.

Beautiful girl
without a curl
except
your butterfly lashes,
where are you going
in this world?
Who will you come to be?
We are anxious to see.
But if I could,
I’d delay
that "someday",
And I’d keep you,
Little C,
by me!

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Font: SF Slapstick ComicTagxedo Color Theme: Slow MotionPoetry Form: SedokaThe Sedoka is a poem that does not rhyme. It is made up of two three-line stanzas with thesyllable counts: 5/7/7, 5/7/7. A Sedoka may address the same subject from different perspectives.

S is for Squirrel

Upside down hangerSeed stealer at bird feedersHome wrecker in the attic

I'm writing poems through the alphabet, for 4 to 104 for the A to Z Blogging Challenge. Visit other A to Z Bloggers by clicking on the tab at the top of the page, and selecting a blog to visit. Happy hopping!

Friday, April 20, 2012

Tagxedo Color Theme: Red TopsImported Font to Tagxedo: Times New RomanPoetry Format: Rondeau = a French poetry form of 15 lines of three stanzas: a quintet (5 lines), a quatrain (4 lines), and a sestet (6 lines). Its rhyme scheme is: aabba aabR aabbaR.Lines 9 and 15 are short, made up of a refrain (R) being of a phrase taken from line one. The other lines are longer and all of the same metrical length.

R is for Rooster

He rouses us from sleep
His mission is to keep
The neighborhood awake;
With crowing he will wake
Us from our slumber deep.

Without a yawn or peep
To bedroom door I creep
His crow I cannot take
Rousing us

The stairs seem pretty steep
When I am half asleep
There is a lot at stake
This rooster needs a shake
This creep’s in trouble deep!
Rousing us

Quinzaine come from the French word qunize, meaning fifteen. A quinzaine is an unrhymed verse of fifteen syllables. There are three lines with seven syllables in the first line, five in the second and three in the third line (7/5/3). The first line is a statement. The next two lines ask a question relating to that statement.

You warm me on winter nights.
Whose pieces gave you life?
Is this love?

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Okay, this was not as easy as it seemed it would be. I should have stuck with the Pantoum like I'd planned! But here's the Palindrome Poem for Pear,
anyway. I hope you like it more than I do! Besides, I had this post
all ready to publish, but when I checked it last night, it had
vanished. Not good. I had the Pear poem saved in a Pages document, so that was
okay (except that I didn't like it, so I rewrote it), but the Popcorn
one I'd written directly in the blog, so didn't have a copy. I rewrote
that too...all at 11:45ish pm. Gotta be more careful with my stuff!

Apple, pumpkin, banana or berry
I like pie.
Pecan, squash, chocolate or cherry
I love pie.
Put on some ice cream
Or serve it with cheese
Pile on the whipped cream
I'll say "thank you" and "please".
If you want to know how long is a mile
Just look at me and measure my smile.
I adore pie.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

I'm more than half-way through the alphabet with poems in alphabetical order, for kids of all ages...and today is brought to you by the letter O. There are not too many onions poems out there, so I thought I'd write a couple o' onioems.

Tagxedo Theme: Ocean FiveTagxedo Font: Cairo - okay, it has an O at the end...I couldn't upload the font I wanted.Poem style: Ottiva Rima - This is written in 8 line octives of 10 or 11 syllables in each line. The pattern of rhyme is abababcc.

Watch the osprey near us in Maine...if they are home at the time anyway! Check back later if they are out fishing when you peek into their nest. They have eggs there right now, so there should be someone there most of the time. I think I saw 3 eggs this morning when the parents left to go fishing.Remember, it's dark at night! So plan accordingly.There's a dumb ad that plays for a short while, but after that it's all osprey!Go here: The Taste of Maine Osprey Web Cam

Thursday, April 12, 2012

A Kyrielle Sonnet is made up of 14 lines (three rhyming quatrain stanzas and a non-rhyming couplet). It has a repeating last line or phrase as a refrain. Each line within the Kyrielle Sonnet has eight syllables. French poetry forms often link back to the beginning of the poem, so they may use the first and last line of the first quatrain as the ending couplet, reenforcing the refrain of the poem. So the rhyming scheme for a Kyrielle Sonnet would be: AabB, ccbB, ddbB, AB -or- AbaB, cbcB, dbdB, AB.

BEFORE you read the poem, you should go to: FreePlay Music and listen to the Preview of Number 6: Straight from the Heart the 2:19 second song there as you read the poem...for the effect of Jazzetry. You may have to try it a couple of times to get the rhythm just right. Wait a few seconds into the music...after the intro to start reading the poem to the music...Let me know if you got it!I would have made it play here, but it is copyrighted and I can't just publish the music here. You can do it though. I know it's a lot of trouble and all, but really, once you have played the music in its own window, and had the poem beside it...you can really even sing it...get down...enjoy...sing it to your hairbrush, in the mirror...to your baby! And I'm not giving you any more poems for J today, so you have nothing else to do anyway. You might as well just sing it with the music. :^) Sigh. If you don't want to play the music, then just try to sing it jazzy...jazzily?'Cause if you don't sing it in a jazzed up fashion, it will just be a very dumb sounding poem! So don't tell me about it.

The Jabber Baby Blues

Jabber on and on
Just to hear your song
Jabber all the day
Jabber any way

Try to make some sense
And not gibberish
Just enunciate
And it would be great

But no....

You just jabber on
Yes the whole day long
And my ears still ring
With your words and song

If you just spoke right
I would hear in spite
Of this jazz I hear
Ringing in my ear.

Jabber-gibberish
Oh, I really wish
You would learn to speak
Take those sounds and tweak

If you’d just be clear
And get older dear
Then we’d all have clues
And not sing these blues

Yes the baby blues
Won’t be done till Twos
And then you will say
No, no, nay, nay, nay

Never mind, my child
Keep on speaking wild
You can rant and scream
For I would rather dream

That I knew quite well
Any thing you’d tell
Me.

For so soon you’ll say
No, no, no, no, no
Nay, nay, nay, nay, nay!
How I dread that day...

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Tagxedo Font: ImpactTagxedo theme: InequalityPoetry form: Imagery Poetry/Image Poem - Imagery intensifies the impact (hey, "Impact" again, like the font!) of the poet’s words as we are shown with words rather than the poet just telling us what he/she feels.

I is for Ice Cream

smooth
melt-in-your-mouth
sweet taste,
cold lips,
cold tongue,
head aches,
but you lick again
that shivery goodness
with crunch at the end.
A flavor-tipped
nose
makes you laugh
at the thought
of your reflection.
warm sun begins
the dripping,
slipping,
sliding
down your fingers,
running
to your wrist
sticking
to your elbow.
drippy splots
appear as dots
on your shirt
as you
savor
every last
melty, spongy
bite.
you wipe
your nose
your mouth
your fingers
your wrist
your elbow
but
not your clothes
that disclose
the close
encounter
with a
cone.

Yes, and your point is??? Because our point is: It doesn't melt as fast in winter. Our "no inside seating" Dairy Queen closes after Thanksgiving and opens again for February. They close mostly so someone can sell Christmas trees on their lot, and so they can take a brief vacation, otherwise they'd be working 7 days a week/ 52 weeks a year. But, not to worry, we can get our January ice cream at Friendly's in town, or at our one store in the village between the post office and the fire station.

When I taught first grade I incorporated sight, sound and touch to remember our short vowel sounds. We learned and used the ASL hand sign for i and made a scratching and itch motion with our little finger on our eyebrow, saying the /i/ sound, for "itchy eye/i" to remember the sound. Then I had them read lots of short i words...some are in here in this nonsensical poem of short i words:

Monday, April 9, 2012

One
of my favorite animals. I've always loved horses, but had to wait
until I was married to actually get a horse of my own. I think we owned
10 at one time. They were mostly Arabians, with a couple of Appaloosas
and Quarter horse blends mixed in to keep everyone humble.

Journée de Huit - day 8

Tagxedo Theme: Happy Brights

Font: Franchise (okay, I'm fudging a bit - it has an "h" in it!)Poetry Form: Haiku: A Haiku is a type of poem with three lines consisting of 5, 7, 5 syllables - 17 syllables in all. Variations of the number of syllables seems to be fine. But I'm sticking with the 5-7-5 format.